Dumbbells for home gym and how to add weight!

i want to get some dumbbells for my home gym off of craigslist, but instead of getting them in increments of 5, i wanted to go in increments of 10 to save money and then add something to make the 5 pound increments. i know there are platemates and other things like that to solve this problem, would putting 5 pound wrist weights on also work?

Platemates are great- I have them and use them with my dumbbells for the 2.5 increments. They have a lifetime warranty so they are a one time investment in my opinion and they essentially double your dumbbells

i really dont want to use adjustable dumbbells, they just tend to annoy me. and i'm considering getting the plate mates, they are just so expensive for what they actually are, so im trying to find a different solution. does anyone know where to get the platemates at a cheap price?

i really dont want to use adjustable dumbbells, they just tend to annoy me. and i'm considering getting the plate mates, they are just so expensive for what they actually are, so im trying to find a different solution. does anyone know where to get the platemates at a cheap price?

Platemates have a monopoloy on the market, so they're expensive everywhere. Amazon has the 2.5lbs donuts for about 50 a pair, so 100 for two dumbbells (2 pair=4 platemates)

old speaker magnet? (i think proteins mentioned that in another thread)

I think there's a thread somewhere about someone using rare earth magnets and gluing them to 2.5 plates or something like that but I wouldn't really want that hanging over my head during any exercise. You have to evaluate price, quality, budget and safety.

i really dont want to use adjustable dumbbells, they just tend to annoy me. and i'm considering getting the plate mates, they are just so expensive for what they actually are, so im trying to find a different solution. does anyone know where to get the platemates at a cheap price?

considering that they take a dumbbell set of 10 lb increments and double it, they are more than worth it. id say four 2.5 lb platemates are your best bet. maybe skip some of the dumbbells you know you wont use for now to offset the cost (which at most sources are running around $90).

Last edited by dskoo65; 02-27-2013 at 03:38 AM.

"ive made the most impressive gains when i spent months with the heavy dumbbells and left the power rack cowering in the corner like the b**ch that it is"-anonymous

"sometimes when a mans alone, thats all you got is your dog"

"he fakes to the left. no. he fakes to the right. he doesnt fake. he thinks about faking. he pretends to fake. i dont know where i am. i cant breathe"

That was the thread I was referring to with the rare earth magnets. Keep in mind those solutions are for the 2.5 increments not 5lb. It seems like plate mates are a worthy investment - do it right or do it twice

That was the thread I was referring to with the rare earth magnets. Keep in mind those solutions are for the 2.5 increments not 5lb. It seems like plate mates are a worthy investment - do it right or do it twice

No those are for 2.5 lb plates on each side of the dumbell which equals 5 lbs...

Right my mistake. Thread starter is a going to have some trouble fitting those on hex dumbbells though

Possibly for the smaller dumbbells but I think he would be fine once you get into the 30's and above... I thought about platemates but you are basically paying $100 for 10 lbs of weights so I can't justify paying that right now so I just do the higher weight with a few less reps

there are 6 sides on the hex dumbbells, obviously, is there any magnets that are close to .5 pounds you could stick on 5 sides, or maybe .4 you could stick on all 6, im just trying to get other peoples input i cant be the only one who has thought of this, someone has to have figured some **** out.

and thats my point exactly, i just cant bring myself to pay $90 for 10 pounds with some magnets stuck on

Here's simple and cheap way to do it if you can get a hold of some steel (I could make them too, for not much). For a 9" long bar, 1"x2" cross section steel bar comes pretty close to 5 lb (within 3%). The rare earth magnets are sold everywhere on the web.
Plenty of room left for gripping.

Here's simple and cheap way to do it if you can get a hold of some steel (I could make them too, for not much). For a 9" long bar, 1"x2" cross section steel bar comes pretty close to 5 lb (within 3%). The rare earth magnets are sold everywhere o the web.
Plenty of room left for gripping.

Sherm - what would you quote on that.? Seems to me like it may be worth it just to buy the plate mates - I wouldn't want a 5lb steel hitting me in the face if I accidentally tapped the weights the wrong way. S

Sherm - what would you quote on that.? Seems to me like it may be worth it just to buy the plate mates - I wouldn't want a 5lb steel hitting me in the face if I accidentally tapped the weights the wrong way. S

I'll have to contact my steel place tomorrow to get costs. I figure a price somewhere in the $20's, shipping included.

I understand you wanting to avoid a broken nose, or a bar sticking in your eye socket. The modern magnets are pretty strong and there are lots of sizes. The picture shows the bar supporting a 30 lb dumbbell. Two 3/4" square by 1/8" thick magnets are doing the job, but I would look for the best magnet for this use.

Since Platemates use magnets too, I suppose it is possible for them to fall off.

I'll have to contact my steel place tomorrow to get costs. I figure a price somewhere in the $20's, shipping included.

I understand you wanting to avoid a broken nose, or a bar sticking in your eye socket. The modern magnets are pretty strong and there are lots of sizes. The picture shows the bar supporting a 30 lb dumbbell. Two 3/4" square by 1/8" thick magnets are doing the job, but I would look for the best magnet for this use.

Since Platemates use magnets too, I suppose it is possible for them to fall off.

That's impressive - they almost seem TOO strong! So sounds like thread starter has some options now, or he can try to build his own by buying some magnets and sticking them to something - sounds like it might be a little difficult finding the right weight steel/metal to attach the magnets too though to get it to match the 2.5lb weight he's looking for - maybe some standard size 2.5lb plates?

i was just in walmart and they have 2.5 pound plates that are made for the adjustable dumbbells, they are thicker so are also less wide and dont stick over the sides of the hex dumbbells they also have there. maybe i could get some strong magnets and stick them to these instead of standard bb 2.5's

i was just in walmart and they have 2.5 pound plates that are made for the adjustable dumbbells, they are thicker so are also less wide and dont stick over the sides of the hex dumbbells they also have there. maybe i could get some strong magnets and stick them to these instead of standard bb 2.5's

Sounds like an experiment, make it happen, make a post and share it with the world so others can learn!